Frost
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Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Jade Empire
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Post by Frost on Oct 5, 2019 18:04:43 GMT
I really liked the haunted house mission in DA2. Obviously the repeated used of that same mansion level didn't help but the concept of spooky (as opposed to scary) is something that is always entertaining to me. I bring up doing a nextgen remake of DA2 (with proper unique levels) whenever I have the opportunity but it doesn't ever get any traction haha A remake of DA2 would be great! Especially if more branching quests for siding with mages or templars could be added (and the Orsino boss fight removed for mages).
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Post by themikefest on Oct 5, 2019 19:44:00 GMT
I bring up doing a nextgen remake of DA2 (with proper unique levels) whenever I have the opportunity but it doesn't ever get any traction haha Would the same happen if you mention DAO having a remake? If that doesn't work, try bringing up releasing a remastered DAO/DA2.
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Frost
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Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Jade Empire
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Post by Frost on Oct 5, 2019 20:18:50 GMT
As for environments I like forests, coasts, cities, snowy environments, and unique locations (fade, etc,). I especially liked the forest environment in Greedfall with its fall colors and floating leaves, which gave it a magical look. I dislike deserts and underground environments such as the deep roads that are boring colors and rocks.
For general level design I like Trespasser and ME2.
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Post by Giant Ambush Beetle on Oct 5, 2019 20:48:58 GMT
Old Bioware: Baldur's Gate II : The Underdark. I simply loved the subterranean world of the dwarves and drows as depicted in Baldur's Gate. The atmosphere was great, just as the layout, gameplay and ambient music. Slums was also great, really hard to pick a favorite one, the maps were excellent.
Bioware 2.0: Inquisition: Haven. Yes, the first map of the game was really excellent, I wish the entire game looked like and palyed like that. It was very well designed, had so much going on there without being cluttered and the town itself was just beautiful. Most of the maps in Inquisition were really good, but this totally stood out, everything was just right.
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revelationeffect
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Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR
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Post by revelationeffect on Oct 5, 2019 22:11:53 GMT
I really liked the haunted house mission in DA2. Obviously the repeated used of that same mansion level didn't help but the concept of spooky (as opposed to scary) is something that is always entertaining to me. I bring up doing a nextgen remake of DA2 (with proper unique levels) whenever I have the opportunity but it doesn't ever get any traction haha A remake of DA2 would be great! Especially if more branching quests for siding with mages or templars could be added (and the Orsino boss fight removed for mages). God, I wish. I love DA2 so much despite its flaws and it could be a legitimately great game if it was given some more polish and the content they had to cut due to the extreme time constraints was added back in.
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Post by fylimar on Oct 5, 2019 23:44:00 GMT
I love the Brecilian Forrest in DAO. Also the Broodmother level for it's creepyness and atmosphere. In DA I liked the design of the Wounded Coast and Lowtown. And that haunted mansion quest. In DAI Crestwood is my favorite level. Also I'm Hushed Whispers and for sheer beauty Emprise du Lion.
In KOTOR I loved the Wookie homeworld and Manaan. In BG2 the Underworld.
I'm not a huge ME fan and only played it once to mid game 2, but I liked Virmire.
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Post by dragontartare on Oct 6, 2019 6:12:41 GMT
I like environments that feel grand, or that make my PC feel small or vulnerable in some way. I'm sure it's an unpopular choice, but I LOVE the Deep Roads in DAI: Descent. Every Inquisitor, even my dwarf, feels so in over their heads there, as if there is so much about the location that they can never hope to understand. I like to feel in awe of a place. A few other areas that gave me the same feeling: - the forest in NWN with the possessed animals
- NWN inside the snowglobe (I think it was a snowglobe??)
- DAO in Denerim
- ME1 Citadel (and ME3 to a lesser extent)
- Kirkwall, but in a more...homey way? Obviously some parts are familiar to Hawke, but there is always some sort of shit going down that Hawke manages to uncover, so how much more is there that Hawke never knows about?
- DAI Forbidden Oasis, banter bug and navigation issues notwithstanding
- the Moon in ME1, when you can look up and see Earth
- the moon in MEA where you do Vetra's mission
- Skyhold, though I wish there were more places to poke around nearby
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Post by annia on Oct 6, 2019 8:40:54 GMT
I bring up doing a nextgen remake of DA2 (with proper unique levels) whenever I have the opportunity but it doesn't ever get any traction haha Would the same happen if you mention DAO having a remake? If that doesn't work, try bringing up releasing a remastered DAO/DA2. DA2 has such a different feel to it, that it would shine if we were given more things to do in Kirkwall. More people to meet and opportunities to get mixed in all the shenanigans that no doubt took place there. I don't mind that the game is small. I mind that it's not dense enough. It would be nice to meet more Kirkwallians and spend more time in the Hanged Man with the characters etc.
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Post by Kappa Neko on Oct 6, 2019 11:19:23 GMT
Hmmm, level design and not cutscenes/quests is a tough one for me because I usually rate a game's visual beauty by the entire art style. Either I like what style a game was going for or I don't. Imo ME2 has an amazing art style start to finish, best looking Bioware game. And there was hardly an environment I didn't like. Horizon's gameplay I HATED but the whole place itself looked good. Collector Ship was goosebumps. Just awesome. DAO's brown art design I didn't much like. It's a pretty ugly game. So I can't even think of a level I especially liked but I'll try... I HATED DA2's art style at first, especially the new design of the darkspawn and Flemeth' catsuit. It all looked way too anime for me. I was so disgusted, lol. By now I think the game looks fine and has aged better than expected. Nothing outstanding, and due to the recycled look for all caves and dungeons it's hard to pick something out. I enjoyed ALL the maps of DAI!
My ranking of all Bioware games I have played by overall art design: ME2>DAI>MEA (minus the hideous character design!)>ME1/ME3>Anthem (demo)>DA2>DAO
Here's a list of a few environments I especially liked for atmosphere: ME1: Normandy, Citadel, Feros (Thorian part), Noveria Hot Labs, Vermire beach, Illos. ME2: Normandy, Illium (and all mission levels), Omega (especially Afterlife), Collector Ship, Horizon colony, Tuchanka, Purgatory, Pragia, Heretic Station, Flotilla. ME3: Normandy, Citadel (especially Purgatory Bar), Palaven moon, Sur'Kesh (arrival zone), Tuchanka (open last part with the ancient statues), Rannoch, Thessia, Sanctuary Labs, Monastery. MEA: Voeld, Havarl, Eos, Habitat 7, Elaaden (planets); any of the vaults, Khi Tasira, Kadara Port, Asari ark (small locations)
DAO: Circle Tower, the Fade, Brecilian Forest, Orzammar, Denerim. DA2: Kirkwall itself, Deep Roads, Sundermount, Wounded Coast. (<which is kind of all the main locations already, lol) DAI: Storm Coast, Fallow Mire, Emerald Graves, Western Approach, Emprise du Lion, Forbidden Oasis, Hissing Wastes, Frostback Basin (zones); Raw Fade, Temple of Mythal, Winter Palace (smaller locations).
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Spectr61
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Post by Spectr61 on Oct 7, 2019 0:28:25 GMT
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Post by garrusfan1 on Oct 7, 2019 0:42:54 GMT
I bring up doing a nextgen remake of DA2 (with proper unique levels) whenever I have the opportunity but it doesn't ever get any traction haha Would the same happen if you mention DAO having a remake? If that doesn't work, try bringing up releasing a remastered DAO/DA2. Would it be a big change or just like Skyrim remastered.
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Post by themikefest on Oct 7, 2019 11:38:51 GMT
the Moon in ME1, when you can look up and see Earth I agree. It was great looking at Earth, the greatest planet in the universe home to the greatest species in the universe, humanity. excellent DA2 has such a different feel to it, that it would shine if we were given more things to do in Kirkwall. More people to meet and opportunities to get mixed in all the shenanigans that no doubt took place there. I don't mind that the game is small. I mind that it's not dense enough. It would be nice to meet more Kirkwallians and spend more time in the Hanged Man with the characters etc. I do agree talking with more folks in Kirkwall would be ok. I would like to have talked with the Talking Man. Eventually Hawke be called the Talking Hawke. haha
Since I mentioned ME having the best level, I would say The Fade in DAO had the best DA level. I mean how cool is it to shapeshift into different forms? Run around as the Burning Man setting baddies on fire. Become a golem smashing the enemies with ease. Floating around as a spirit saving wear and tear on your legs and feet. And of course, the mouse, a rodent. Sneak around without the baddies noticing you. Too bad there wasn't a piece of cheese to collect. hahaha.
Another thing, not a level, but the music. In DAO, the camp music was very soothing after spending a day killing darkspawn, bandits and anything else.
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Post by SirSourpuss on Oct 7, 2019 11:45:12 GMT
Thane's recruitment mission. Especially the bridge connecting the two corporate buildings, Jack's loyalty mission, with the flora overgrowing and taking over the Pragia facility, also the eerie feeling of abandonment, but also something else being there, which we didn't know what it could be, added to the eeriness early on. The hunt for Sarevok in BG 1, after exposing him, just as he is about to be coronated. The underground city below Baldur's Gate was fantastic to explore, in an ominous way. The fertile plains of Dantooine, in KotoR, with its wide open areas, sunny skies etc. And that flying ... manta ray, or whatever it was, that crossed the skies.
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Post by Iddy on Oct 7, 2019 16:24:10 GMT
....."level"?
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Post by xelander on Oct 7, 2019 16:56:04 GMT
Undoubtedly the top 2 spots are taken by Noveria and Virmire, and half the reason is simply the music and the landscape.
The Noble Origin from DAO, (and later on coupled with Ostagar) it set up an intense emotional connection with my character.
The Arishok attack on Kirkwall was also very well done, and both DLCs.
The whole of ME2 was excellent in terms of gameplay and most main/loyalty and a few side missions had also very satisfying atmospheric/ emotional aspect to them. All of it crowned by the Suicide Mission and Arrival as the ultimate Shepard experience.
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∯ Interjector in Chief
Staff Mini-Profile Theme: Heimdall
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, Anthem, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
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Post by Heimdall on Oct 7, 2019 17:25:44 GMT
The person posing the question originally is an environment artist, so think of this in terms of what areas or missions whose environments you liked or found particularly engaging.
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Post by traks on Oct 7, 2019 18:31:23 GMT
My favorite levels are all from Mass Effect games. The suicide mission, because if you don't intend to play perfect, it still can surprise you when it comes to squadmate deaths. Virmire, because it has a fantastic structure and you can approach the mission from different angles on the map. Noveria, because of atmosphere and Rachni surprises. Ilos/Citadel because of the right mix between discovery and action and the great battlefield to pass on the outside of the Citadel. ME3 lacked these kind of missions/levels, but Khi Tasira in MEA was a good sign that BioWare still can come up with these kind of levels.
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Sanunes
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Just a flip of the coin.
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Anthem, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
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Post by Sanunes on Oct 7, 2019 20:05:07 GMT
Hmm.. its really hard for me to really decide since its been so long since I really played a BioWare game.
Dragon Age: Origins - Doesn't really have an area that stands out for everything felt brown. So nothing stood out. Dragon Age 2 - It existed. Dragon Age: Inquisition = Emprise du Lion is probably my favorite exterior zone in Dragon Age for it felt more contained while I played it and was more then just a flat area.
Mass Effect 1 - I think the Citadel is the standout for me, but I am not sure if it was its design for the uniqueness it had at the time. Mass Effect 2 - The Suicide Mission, but its more then just the art design it was the mission, the banter, and wrapping up the game. Mass Effect 3 - The Cerberus Base for it felt more then just a standard mission like the Suicide Mission, but felt like it was missing some choice such as sending crew members off do complete tasks. Mass Effect: Andromeda - H-047c it just has a lot of little elements that I liked and when added together makes it my favorite area of the game. Much like The Suicide Mission and The Cerberus base its things like the banter the enviromental design with lower gravity and the more compact nature with minimal exploring.
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LadyofNemesis
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Post by LadyofNemesis on Oct 7, 2019 20:44:23 GMT
any nature level really Brecilian Forest, Emerald Graves I also really like the Fallow Mire and Arbor Wilds
I love doing In Hushed Whispers due to it's creepiness (also because for me personally it's also an emotional level (the ending keeps making me cry)
and in Mass Effect Virmire, Illium and Omega Havarl (only one of few planets I've seen in Andromeda thus far because I still have to finish it )
love doing some of the uncharted worlds as well though, some of them are quite pretty
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Post by pessimistpanda on Oct 8, 2019 0:44:58 GMT
Despite its many flaws, the masked ball at Halamshiral or whatever is probably my favourite level in a BioWare game. I appreciated the change of pace, and the focus on making the right choices for the outcome that you want, plus it has the most possible different outcomes of any critical path quest in the entire game.
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Post by shinobiwan on Oct 8, 2019 17:24:25 GMT
Recruit thane mission in me2.
Followed closely by in your heart shall burn and the time travel mission in DAI.
Edit: actually scratch all that, it’s the last level of the witch hunt dlc in DAO. Forgot about it.
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Post by warden on Oct 8, 2019 18:33:15 GMT
For me was the Deep Roads, quite a friendly envirorment with such golden/red tones that could ignite your passion.
Haven't seen anything like this after that, just tells you how amazing and unique it was.
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Post by Ieldra on Oct 9, 2019 10:58:54 GMT
Hmm...there are many ways in which a map could be my favorite, but there was one that made me just stand there and look at the environment for a few minutes before moving on. So in the category "most impressive environment", DAI's Storm Coast wins, followed by DAI Descent's Ruins of Heidrun Thaig.
In terms of general atmosphere, I nominate DAO's Deep Roads. When I played DAO for the first time, there was a palpable sense of age and abandonment, as well as being very far from civilization. Followed by BG2's Asylum for its creepy atmosphere and important story developments.
And lastly, I love good city maps for their variety and the many things you can do there. Here we have a tie between DAO's Denerim, BG's Baldur's Gate and BG2's Athkatla.
With regard to the ME games, it has been my impression that believable locations weren't really a priority in their design. All too often, their maps felt like game levels and not like locations. And "believable as a location" is a prerequisite for a good opinion from me. So sorry ME Trilogy, you lose. Large parts of DA2, especially caves and houses, suffered from the same problem, but it was also my impression that things might've been better if the game hadn't been rushed.
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Iakus
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Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
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Post by Iakus on Oct 9, 2019 19:29:20 GMT
DAO's Fort Drakon. It's nice to have your companions come to your rescue for once. And deciding which two do the rescuing leads to tons of different possible interactions.
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Post by Son of Dorn on Oct 10, 2019 4:49:05 GMT
None of them really stood out to me, but I guess I have to say... The Deep Roads.
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